"With more than 1.3 billion people lacking access to reliable power today, our distributed power business is ideally positioned to serve communities in both developing and industrialized countries where we see a growing demand for distributed power solutions to improve local energy security and comply with more stringent environmental regulations," said Bolsinger.

Check out the video immediately below to hear Bolsinger explain why GE is focusing on natural gas-based distributed power technologies.

GE is predicting that that demand for distributed power systems will rise at least 40% faster than global electricity demand between now and 2020, according to a white paper released during the event.

The white paper identifies three key factors driving demand for distributed power technologies.

First, difficulties expanding access to electricity in remote areas with limited or no conventional grid infrastructure is driving demand for distributed power systems. Second, industrial and large commercial customers are embracing distributed power in both developing and developed economies to provide power during natural disasters and other unplanned outages. Finally, the oil and gas industry is scaling up investments in on-site power applications to provide electricity to remote operations as well as mechanical power to pump and compress gas.